Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?

When I was a kid, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of my favorite movies. When I was still very young, my father and I would spend lazy Saturdays watching the then-cutting-edge VHS copy of the movie. For some, Harrison Ford would forever be Han Solo, but in my mind he was forever and always Indy: master of adventure, wooer of ladies, son of Connery, and hater of snakes.

It has been said before, but it's a fitting comparison: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune very much captures the spirit of Indiana Jones. The game has drawn a lot of comparisons to the Tomb Raider series, but aside from the idea of raiding lost tombs and overcoming some environmental platforming puzzles, the two don't share all that much. Uncharted is, like its inspiration, an adventurous ride on the search for treasure; there's rarely a dull moment, and all-out action is given precedence over sifting through unexplained environmental puzzles. What Tomb Raider lacked in direction and narrative, in action and pace, in control and polish, Uncharted provides in spades.

Surprisingly, the premise and the general playing of Uncharted is relatively straightforward. With so many complex, expansive, and mysterious story lines out there in other big games with the likes of Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and BioShock, Uncharted actually comes off with a distinct simplicity. Sure, you'll learn more about the world of the game and the different capers that the main character Nate, his companions, and his enemies are involved in, but there's little mystery to the action: like Indiana Jones, the joy is derived from the nonstop locomotion of the adventure rather than the nuances of the events themselves.

Like any good adventure movie, Uncharted whisks you away with a fast-moving plot and some believable characters

Don't take that the wrong way, though: the story of Uncharted is still wholly enjoyable. The capable but flawed treasure hunter Nathan Drake sets out to discover the secrets of his long lost ancestor Sir Francis Drake, famed English navigator privy to the location to the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. Though his initial journey takes him from the ruins of the fabled city to a long-forgotten island in the Pacific Ocean, things quickly get out of control as pirates, mercenaries, and other competitors race for the riches. There are a few twists and turns—one in particular towards the end of the game that's completely unexpected, so those needing some kind of weird spin will be happy—but nothing that will really boggle your mind or captivate your interest long after you stop playing, though Nate certainly finds some snakes of his own to fear.

The story is primarily told through some the well-rendered FMV cut-scenes, though most of the actual action happens within the more or less identical in-game engine. In-game conversations will occasionally be framed by directed choreography, but oftentimes Nate will speak to his companion or himself as you navigate the environments, providing clues about where to go or what to do. The voice-acting cast does an amazing job of sounding natural, while the music complements the action superbly. As far as storytelling goes, Uncharted has all the right stuff in all the right places.

A man of many talents

Uncharted plays out like a hybrid between a third-person shooter and a third-person adventure game. The game can be broken down into two sections—the shooting segments and the platforming segments—but unlike most games, the divide between the two doesn't stay very clear: there's often times when you'll need to navigate some environmental hazards and fight at the same time. The resulting mix between the opposing styles is unique and is seamlessly integrated to astounding effect. You'll quickly forget that you're doing one or the other as the game becomes one unified, smooth experience.

Thanks to some precise aim and a well-implemented over-the-shoulder camera, combat in Uncharted is excellent

The game employs an over-the-shoulder camera and cover system that has been compared to Gears of War in its implementation. You hold down the left shoulder button to bring up a reticle, which allows you to pick off targets and move at the same time. When the going gets tough, you can use the one-touch circle button to stick to cover, and Nate will appropriately duck or crouch on his own accord depending on the size and shape of cover. The developers smartly decided to use a one-touch button system rather than the detestable "push and stick" of some other games. You can even blind-fire from cover, which becomes especially useful when you start to get some grenades. Speaking of armament, the weapon selection isn't half bad either, with a relatively nice variety of staple weapons ranging from pistols and Uzis to AK-47s, shotguns, and grenade launchers.

Nate can also fight with his bare hands, and there's a simplistic but effective combo system that allows you to pull off a variety of different context-sensitive attacks. A staple mashing combo can be found, as well as a timing-based "brutal attack" which, when pulled off effectively, will take down a foe cleanly. There's even a one-shot kill stealth attack if you manage to sneak up behind a foe.

The platforming engine is equally as accessible. With the recent release of Assassin's Creed, one would think that Ubisoft had a monopoly over the third person vertical platforming mechanic, but Naughty Dog has proved that an agile assassin isn't the only one capable of some death-defying maneuvers. You'll jump and hang across chasms as you will surmount tall towers with the help of ledges, cracks, and vines. All of this, though, is done with just the X button and some good timing.

The cover system is simple, but effective

It couldn't be any simpler, and yet it feels slightly more involved than the system in Assassin's Creed. While Creed may provide a more authentic sense of exhilaration during chase sequences, and the game's character is capable of a larger variety of different maneuvers, Uncharted presents a different, more hands on approach as you'll have to manually time your own jumps.

Mixing the different elements is where Uncharted really shines. Stunning an enemy with some in-motion shooting before running in to drop-kick him in the face, peeking up over ledges that you're hanging on to get the drop on enemies with a well-placed preemptive headshot, taking cover behind a pillar only to climb on top of it and get the drop on your foes: there's a great variety and flexibility to Nate's actions—and subsequently the gameplay—and you'll continue to find new tricks throughout the course of the game. And what a course it is.